While most Ticos take time off during Easter Week to relax and observe the religious holidays, members of Fuerza Publica will be busy making sure that order and safety prevail in Costa Rica.

The official press release of Fuerza Publica for Easter Week gives an overview of its planned operations:

• 3,861 officers will be on duty nationwide
• 6 patrol aircraft will be used
• 315 patrol cars will be on the road
• 372 motorcycles will be dispatched when needed
• 91 officers will patrol on bicycles
• 11 mounted officers will patrol on horseback
• 10 law enforcement and rescue vessels will patrol our waters

Increased Foot Patrols

More officers will be present at bus terminals, tourism hotspots, and close to areas of worship where religious processions will take place.

The following special units will be working Easter Week: civil disturbance control, tourism police, K-9, air security, coast guard, and operational planning.

Emergency Prevention

This year Fuerza Publica will coordinate emergency prevention efforts with the Red Cross and the Transit Police, as they are the designated first responders.

Observation towers will be in place at the following locations: the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Cartago, the Children’s Park in Alajuela, the Angels’ Park in Heredia, the Central Park in Ciudad Quesada, and the following beaches: Carrillo, Coco, Dominical, Jaco, Puntarenas, and Samara.

The Burning of Judas Iscariot

Several communities within the Greater San Jose Metropolitan Area may conduct the traditional burning of the effigy of Judas Iscariot anytime during April 2^nd to Easter Sunday. In previous years, this tradition has unfortunately attracted arsonists and other unpleasant characters, which is why Fuerza Publica will coordinate vigilance along with community leaders.

Prior to Good Friday, Fuerza Publica will be inspecting certain neighborhoods and looking for signs of garbage accumulation that could easily catch on fire. These trash piles will be removed for the safety of the community.

The Dry Law

Starting on Wednesday night, Fuerza Publica will enforce dry law, whereby retail stores, restaurants and bars are not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages. While some cities and towns do not have specific dry law ordinances in their municipal codes, most of the country joins in the observance from Wednesday night until just before Easter Sunday.

Border Crossings

Thousands of Nicaraguan immigrants are expected to return home for Easter, and some perpetual tourists will take this opportunity to make a visa run. Fuerza Publica and the Immigration Service will be out in force at the Penas Blancas northern border crossing. They will be specifically looking for smugglers, scammers, pick pockets, coyotes (smugglers of immigrants), and other miscreants that descend upon our borders.

The tourism police will also be on hand at the border crossings to assist foreign travelers.

The Coast Guard

Ten law enforcement and rescue vessels will patrol our national waters, while the Red Cross will watch from the shore.

Water emergencies during Easter Week have been increasing in the past few years, which is why the Red Cross issued a set of cautionary guidelines and preventive measures to keep in mind.